Drive-chain.



PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905.

L. R. ROGERS.

DRIVE CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1904 [T111 @TI Q Le GT1 CLT By K N ITED STATES Patented February '7, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD R. ROGERS, OF IVORGESTER, MASSACHUSEI S, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM H. GATES, OF WORCESTER, MASSAUHUSETTS.

DRIVE-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,741, dated February 7, 1905.

Application filed August 22,1904. Serial No. 221,616.

To It whom, it Uta/Z] concern;

Be it known that I, LEONARD R. ROGERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at \l'orcester, in the county of lVorcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Drive-Chains, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings forming a part of the same, in which- Figure 1 represents a side view of a portion of a drive-chain embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view. Fig. 3 is a central horizontal sectional view of a portion of a chain. Fig. I is a detached view of one of the side links. Fig. 5 is a detached view of one of the pivotal pins. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the retaining-plate for holding the links in position, and Fig. 7 is an end view of the retaining-plate in a modified form.

Similar reference-figures refer to similar parts in the different views.

.\[,v present invention relates to that class of drivechains comprising central links and known as detachable, in which each pair of interlinked central and side links may be readily connected and disconnected; and it has for its object to provide means to prevent the accidental disconnection of the links of the chain; and it consists in the employment of a retaining-plate detachably attached to each of the side links and substantially filling the intervening space between the ends of adjacent center links in order to prevent a sliding movement between the central and side links.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 denote a pair of side links; 3 I, a pair of central links detachably connected with one end of the side links 1 2, and 5 6 a similar pair of central links detachably connected with the opposite end of the side links 1 2. Riveted or otherwise secured in one end of the side link 1 is a pivotal pin 7, and riveted or otherwise secured in the opposite end of the side link 2 is a similar pivotal pin 8. The pivotal pins 7 and 8 pass through sleeves 9 and 10, which connect the ends of the center links, as shown in sectional view in Fig. 3. The free ends of the pivotal pins 7 and 8 are inserted through circular openings 11 and 12 in the side links 1 and The free ends of the pins 7 and 8 are cut away on opposite sides, as shown at 13 14, Fig. 5, forming shoulders 15, and the free ends of the pins are interlocked with the side links by pulling the center links toward the ends of the side links, so as to draw the necks of the pins into the slots 16 and 17, which communicate with openings 11 and 12. The detachable pins are then se curely locked in the ends of the side links 1 2, the side links being inclosed between the shoulders 15. In order to detach the center links from the connected side links, the pivotal pins are pushed toward the center of the side links in order to bring the ends of the pins into the circular openings of the side links, allowing the side links to be separated. This method of constructing a detachable chain is not new; but my present invention relates to means for preventing a sliding movement of the central links toward the center of the side links and preventing the accidental displacement of the side links, and I accomplish this result by attaching to the inner side of the side links and in the space between the opposing inner ends of the center links a retaining-plate 18, substantially like that shown in perspective view in Fig. (5. The retainingplate 18 consists of a plate of steel, preferably provided on its opposite edges with lianges 19 19. The plate 18 isof sufiicicnt width to bring the flanges 19 19 into contact with the opposing ends 20 of the center links when the pivotal pins 7 and 8 are drawn forward into the slots 16 and 17. The opposite ends of the plate 18 are provided with flanges 21, which are sprung over the opposite edges of the side links in order to hold the retaining-plates in position. The ends of the central links are curved, as shown at22 22, Fig. 1, concentrically with their pivotal pins in order to permit a rocking movement between the end of the center link and the straight side 23 of the retaining-plate 18. The retaining-plate 18 is preferably made of hardened steel and of sufficient elasticity to allow the lips 21 at the ends of the flanges 21 to be sprung over or removed from the edges of the side links.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified form of retaining-plate 27, in which the wide flanges 25 25 are formed, one of which is folded upon the other, as shown in Fig. 7, in order to reduce the space between the opposing retaining-plates to substantially equal the space 26 between the center links. This reduction of the space between the side links to the width of the space between the center links provides a uniform bearing of all the links against the teeth of the sprocket-wheel. The flanges 28 of the modified form of, retaining-plate are constructed in the same manner and for the same purpose as the flanges 21, Fig. 6.

WVhatl claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a detachable drive-chain of the class described, the combination with the side links of a retaining-plate supported upon the inner sides of the side links and substantially filling the space between the opposing ends of the central links.

2. The combination, in a drive-chain, of pairs of side and central links hinged together. with pivotal pins capable of a sliding movement in said side links, and a retaining-plate attached to the inner side of a side link between the opposing ends of the central links and limiting the sliding movement of the central links.

3. In a detachable drive-chain of the class described, the combination with a side link and adjacent central links, of a retaining-plate held between the opposing ends of adjacent central links and having elastic flanges engaging the edges of theside link.

Dated this 18th day of August, 1904.

LEONARD R. ROGERS.

Witnesses:

RUFUS B. FOWLER, PENELOPE (JoMBERBAoH. 

